1 A father cruel, and a step-dame false;2 A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,3 That hath her husband banish'd;--O, that husband!4 My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated5 Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol'n,6 As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable7 Is the desire that's glorious: blest be those,8 How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,9 Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!

Enter PISANIO and IACHIMO

PISANIO

10 Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,11 Comes from my lord with letters.

Aside17 All of her that is out of door most rich!18 If she be furnish'd with a mind so rare,19 She is alone the Arabian bird, and I20 Have lost the wager. Boldness be my friend!21 Arm me, audacity, from head to foot!22 Or, like the Parthian, I shall flying fight;23 Rather directly fly.

IMOGEN

Reads24 'He is one of the noblest note, to whose25 kindnesses I am most infinitely tied. Reflect upon26 him accordingly, as you value your trust--27 LEONATUS.'28 So far I read aloud:29 But even the very middle of my heart30 Is warm'd by the rest, and takes it thankfully.31 You are as welcome, worthy sir, as I32 Have words to bid you, and shall find it so33 In all that I can do.

IACHIMO

34 Thanks, fairest lady.35 What, are men mad? Hath nature given them eyes36 To see this vaulted arch, and the rich crop37 Of sea and land, which can distinguish 'twixt38 The fiery orbs above and the twinn'd stones39 Upon the number'd beach? and can we not40 Partition make with spectacles so precious41 'Twixt fair and foul?

IMOGEN

42 What makes your admiration?

IACHIMO

43 It cannot be i' the eye, for apes and monkeys44 'Twixt two such shes would chatter this way and45 Contemn with mows the other; nor i' the judgment,46 For idiots in this case of favour would47 Be wisely definite; nor i' the appetite;48 Sluttery to such neat excellence opposed49 Should make desire vomit emptiness,50 Not so allured to feed.

IMOGEN

51 What is the matter, trow?

IACHIMO

52 The cloyed will,53 That satiate yet unsatisfied desire, that tub54 Both fill'd and running, ravening first the lamb55 Longs after for the garbage.

67 Exceeding pleasant; none a stranger there68 So merry and so gamesome: he is call'd69 The Briton reveller.

IMOGEN

70 When he was here,71 He did incline to sadness, and oft-times72 Not knowing why.

IACHIMO

73 I never saw him sad.74 There is a Frenchman his companion, one75 An eminent monsieur, that, it seems, much loves76 A Gallian girl at home; he furnaces77 The thick sighs from him, whiles the jolly Briton--78 Your lord, I mean--laughs from's free lungs, cries 'O,79 Can my sides hold, to think that man, who knows80 By history, report, or his own proof,81 What woman is, yea, what she cannot choose82 But must be, will his free hours languish for83 Assured bondage?'

IMOGEN

84 Will my lord say so?

IACHIMO

85 Ay, madam, with his eyes in flood with laughter:86 It is a recreation to be by87 And hear him mock the Frenchman. But, heavens know,88 Some men are much to blame.

IMOGEN

89 Not he, I hope.

IACHIMO

90 Not he: but yet heaven's bounty towards him might91 Be used more thankfully. In himself, 'tis much;92 In you, which I account his beyond all talents,93 Whilst I am bound to wonder, I am bound94 To pity too.

IMOGEN

95 What do you pity, sir?

IACHIMO

96 Two creatures heartily.

IMOGEN

97 Am I one, sir?98 You look on me: what wreck discern you in me99 Deserves your pity?

IACHIMO

100 Lamentable! What,101 To hide me from the radiant sun and solace102 I' the dungeon by a snuff?

IMOGEN

103 I pray you, sir,104 Deliver with more openness your answers105 To my demands. Why do you pity me?

IACHIMO

106 That others do--107 I was about to say--enjoy your--But108 It is an office of the gods to venge it,109 Not mine to speak on 't.

IMOGEN

110 You do seem to know111 Something of me, or what concerns me: pray you,--112 Since doubling things go ill often hurts more113 Than to be sure they do; for certainties114 Either are past remedies, or, timely knowing,115 The remedy then born--discover to me116 What both you spur and stop.

IACHIMO

117 Had I this cheek118 To bathe my lips upon; this hand, whose touch,119 Whose every touch, would force the feeler's soul120 To the oath of loyalty; this object, which121 Takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye,122 Fixing it only here; should I, damn'd then,123 Slaver with lips as common as the stairs124 That mount the Capitol; join gripes with hands125 Made hard with hourly falsehood--falsehood, as126 With labour; then by-peeping in an eye127 Base and unlustrous as the smoky light128 That's fed with stinking tallow; it were fit129 That all the plagues of hell should at one time130 Encounter such revolt.

IMOGEN

131 My lord, I fear,132 Has forgot Britain.

IACHIMO

133 And himself. Not I,134 Inclined to this intelligence, pronounce135 The beggary of his change; but 'tis your graces136 That from pay mutest conscience to my tongue137 Charms this report out.

IMOGEN

138 Let me hear no more.

IACHIMO

139 O dearest soul! your cause doth strike my heart140 With pity, that doth make me sick. A lady141 So fair, and fasten'd to an empery,142 Would make the great'st king double,--to be partner'd143 With tomboys hired with that self-exhibition144 Which your own coffers yield! with diseased ventures145 That play with all infirmities for gold146 Which rottenness can lend nature! such boil'd stuff147 As well might poison poison! Be revenged;148 Or she that bore you was no queen, and you149 Recoil from your great stock.

IMOGEN

150 Revenged!151 How should I be revenged? If this be true,--152 As I have such a heart that both mine ears153 Must not in haste abuse--if it be true,154 How should I be revenged?

IACHIMO

155 Should he make me156 Live, like Diana's priest, betwixt cold sheets,157 Whiles he is vaulting variable ramps,158 In your despite, upon your purse? Revenge it.159 I dedicate myself to your sweet pleasure,160 More noble than that runagate to your bed,161 And will continue fast to your affection,162 Still close as sure.

IMOGEN

163 What, ho, Pisanio!

IACHIMO

164 Let me my service tender on your lips.

IMOGEN

165 Away! I do condemn mine ears that have166 So long attended thee. If thou wert honourable,167 Thou wouldst have told this tale for virtue, not168 For such an end thou seek'st,--as base as strange.169 Thou wrong'st a gentleman, who is as far170 From thy report as thou from honour, and171 Solicit'st here a lady that disdains172 Thee and the devil alike. What ho, Pisanio!173 The king my father shall be made acquainted174 Of thy assault: if he shall think it fit,175 A saucy stranger in his court to mart176 As in a Romish stew and to expound177 His beastly mind to us, he hath a court178 He little cares for and a daughter who179 He not respects at all. What, ho, Pisanio!

IACHIMO

180 O happy Leonatus! I may say181 The credit that thy lady hath of thee182 Deserves thy trust, and thy most perfect goodness183 Her assured credit. Blessed live you long!184 A lady to the worthiest sir that ever185 Country call'd his! and you his mistress, only186 For the most worthiest fit! Give me your pardon.187 I have spoke this, to know if your affiance188 Were deeply rooted; and shall make your lord,189 That which he is, new o'er: and he is one190 The truest manner'd; such a holy witch191 That he enchants societies into him;192 Half all men's hearts are his.

IMOGEN

193 You make amends.

IACHIMO

194 He sits 'mongst men like a descended god:195 He hath a kind of honour sets him off,196 More than a mortal seeming. Be not angry,197 Most mighty princess, that I have adventured198 To try your taking a false report; which hath199 Honour'd with confirmation your great judgment200 In the election of a sir so rare,201 Which you know cannot err: the love I bear him202 Made me to fan you thus, but the gods made you,203 Unlike all others, chaffless. Pray, your pardon.

IMOGEN

204 All's well, sir: take my power i' the court205 for yours.

IACHIMO

206 My humble thanks. I had almost forgot207 To entreat your grace but in a small request,208 And yet of moment to, for it concerns209 Your lord; myself and other noble friends,210 Are partners in the business.

IMOGEN

211 Pray, what is't?

IACHIMO

212 Some dozen Romans of us and your lord--213 The best feather of our wing--have mingled sums214 To buy a present for the emperor215 Which I, the factor for the rest, have done216 In France: 'tis plate of rare device, and jewels217 Of rich and exquisite form; their values great;218 And I am something curious, being strange,219 To have them in safe stowage: may it please you220 To take them in protection?

IMOGEN

221 Willingly;222 And pawn mine honour for their safety: since223 My lord hath interest in them, I will keep them224 In my bedchamber.

IACHIMO

225 They are in a trunk,226 Attended by my men: I will make bold227 To send them to you, only for this night;228 I must aboard to-morrow.

IMOGEN

229 O, no, no.

IACHIMO

230 Yes, I beseech; or I shall short my word231 By lengthening my return. From Gallia232 I cross'd the seas on purpose and on promise233 To see your grace.

IMOGEN

234 I thank you for your pains:235 But not away to-morrow!

IACHIMO

236 O, I must, madam:237 Therefore I shall beseech you, if you please238 To greet your lord with writing, do't to-night:239 I have outstood my time; which is material240 To the tender of our present.

IMOGEN

241 I will write.242 Send your trunk to me; it shall safe be kept,243 And truly yielded you. You're very welcome.